Automobile battery and method for manufacturing pole plates

Abstract

A battery includes anode plates, formed as a mesh by forming cuts in series on a lead plate strip rolled into a uniform thickness, for storing electricity in a chemically reactive state by expansion processing, cathode plates formed as a mesh for storing electricity in a chemically reactive state, separators between the anode and cathode plates for electrical insulation, mechanical separation, and the impregnation of an AGM with electrolyte, such that the chemical reaction for storing electricity is facilitated and the pressure in the cell remains constant, upper and lower cases made of polypropylene and containing the anode plates, cathode plates, separators, and electrolyte in a plurality of mutually separate cells, and a cap coupled into the screw holes formed in the cell units in the upper case, for discharging gas generated during charge and discharge when the pressure of the gas is over a permissible level.

The invention claimed is:  
     
       1. An automobile lead battery, comprising:
 a plurality of anode plates for storing electricity in a chemically reactive state, the plurality of anode plates formed in a mesh shape by forming a plurality of cuts in series on a lead plate strip rolled to a uniform thickness and performing expansion processing; 
 a plurality of cathode plates for storing electricity in a chemically reactive state, the plurality of cathode plates having a size identical to the anode plates and being in a mesh shape; 
 an electrolyte; 
 a plurality of separators disposed between the anode plates and the cathode plates so that the anode plates and the cathode plates are electrically insulated and mechanically separated, the plurality of separators formed by impregnating an absorbent glass mat (AGM) with the electrolyte, such that a chemical reaction for storing electricity is facilitated and an inner pressure of a cell is maintained constant; 
 an upper case and a lower case, made of polypropylene and including a plurality of separate unit cells, each of the unit cells including the anode plates, the cathode plates, the separators, and the electrolyte; and 
 a cap screw-coupled into a screw hole formed in each of the unit cells of the upper case so as to exhaust a gas generated during charge and discharge when pressure of the gas is over a predetermined level; 
 wherein the cap comprises: 
 an outer cap screw-coupled into the screw hole formed in each of the unit cells of the upper case, the outer cap comprising a fixed cavity having one closed end at a central portion thereof and an open end, an exhaust passage connected to the closed end of the fixed cavity so as to communicate with outside, and a fixed fin and a pressure protrusion, which protrude in a form of a cone at a center of the closed end of the fixed cavity; 
 an inner cap inserted into the open end of the fixed cavity of the outer cap and fastened by a fastening lock, the inner cap including a gas hole having both open ends at a center thereof; and 
 a valve provided between the outer cap and the inner cap, the valve comprising a hinge membrane of which a top and a bottom are fixed to one end of the inner cap and the fixed fin to close the fixed cavity, a pressure part connected to the hinge membrane and being in contact with the pressure protrusion to support a predetermined pressure and to block one open end of the gas hole, and a blockage membrane connected to the hinge membrane and the pressure part, wherein a bottom of the blockage membrane is either in contact with or spaced apart from the inner cap according to the inner pressure of the cell, and a top of the blockage membrane is exposed to the exhaust passage and is not supported by the inner cap so that one end of the gas hole is blocked and the blocked end of the gas hole is opened when the pressure part is not supported by a pressure more than the predetermined level. 
 
     
     
       2. The automobile lead battery of  claim 1 , wherein the cathode plates are of any one type selected from among types of rolled expanded plates, typical expanded plates, and cast expanded plates. 
     
     
       3. The automobile lead battery of  claim 1 , wherein the AGM is provided between the anode plates and the cathode plates, the AGM comprises a mat of glass fibers, and the AGM is impregnated with the electrolyte so that pressure is applied to the anode plates and the cathode plates and the AGM is brought into close contact with the anode plates and the cathode plates, and the plates are supported so as not to move while facilitating contact with the electrolyte. 
     
     
       4. The automobile lead battery of  claim 2 , wherein the cathode plates are the rolled expanded plates formed by continuously compressing a cast lead plate using a plurality of rollers to produce a lead plate strip having a uniform width and thickness, forming cuts in series thereon, gradually drawing both sides of the strip having the cuts in a width direction to expand the width, and cutting the strip to a predetermined size. 
     
     
       5. The automobile lead battery of  claim 4 , wherein the lead plate strip is cast having a thickness of 8 to 11 mm and a width of 90 to 110 mm;
 the lead plate strip is compressed to be thinly rolled to a thickness corresponding to 1/9 to 1/12 of the initial thickness, 
 the cuts are formed to a size of 8 to 11 mm at an interval of 5 to 10 mm, and 
 the strip is expanded so that the width thereof is increased by 2.5 to 4 times. 
 
     
     
       6. The automobile lead battery of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined pressure falls in a range of 80 to 160 mbar. 
     
     
       7. The automobile lead battery of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined pressure falls in a range of 80 to 160 mbar.